CIS Model

Our evidence-based approach, adapted to meet each school’s unique needs, is the basis for our success. Many children face challenges both inside and outside of the classroom.

Through a school-based Student Support Specialist, Communities In Schools strategically aligns and delivers needed resources to provide the Five Basics so that students can focus on learning. The student support specialist works closely with school administrators, staff and teachers in this effort. The remaining part of the team may include varied combinations of additional Communities In Schools staff, reassigned or repositioned staff, partners and volunteers, each with defined roles and responsibilities based on Communities In Schools site operations plans.

What is the Communities In Schools Model?

The Communities In Schools of Greenville (CISG) affiliate and the CISG Student Support Specialist leverage partnerships to connect students and families with community resources, tailoring them to their specific needs. Within the school the CIS Model is implemented in the following steps:

1. Needs Assessment

Using school and community data, stakeholder interviews and surveys and identified school priorities, CIS will conduct a needs assessment in collaboration with school staff to determine the priority needs for the community and student populations that the CIS Student Support Specialist can address.

2. Annual Support Planning

The CIS Student Support Specialist, working with the identified School Support Team, will develop a School Support Plan outlining all goals and planned supports for the school year. Supports are tied directly to the needs identified in the needs assessment, have clear objectives and measurable outcomes and processes for evaluating effectiveness and making necessary adjustments.

3. Three Tiers of Support

The CIS Model includes three tiers of support:
• Tier I Support: Widely available services designed to foster a positive school climate and address school-level risk factors.
• Tier II Support: Targeted services typically provided in a group setting to students with a common need.
• Tier III Support: Intensive, individualized services typically provided in a one-on-one setting to students with highly specific needs.

4. Monitoring and Adjustment of Services

A key component of the CIS Model is that all supports, both school-wide and individual, are monitored to determine effectiveness and adjusted as necessary. This process is completed as part of on-going reporting and coordination with school staff and leadership.

5. Evaluation

The support provided by CIS is evaluated regularly based on program goals for the outcomes for the school and individual students. These evaluations will help to demonstrate results and determine what resources are needed to meet desired outcomes.